Total Hockey Museum- hit or miss?

There was much hype surrounding the new Total Hockey Museum which opened in Bowmanville last weekend. There has been much discussion among Clarington residents, and what I've heard has been mostly con with few pro comments. Many have been worried that after the grand opening, or after one visit to Total Hockey, that would be enough and people won't return, making it a bust as far as covering overhead expenses year to year. People are afraid this "tourist attraction" forced upon Clarington by our illustrious Council will end up costing residents in higher taxes. There is a much bigger hockey museum, the Hockey Hall of Fame, just 80 km west of here. What would make people make return trips to Bowmanville for Total Hockey, unless the Prime Minister and hockey greats such as Frank Mahovlich, Red Kelly, Johnny Bower, Bobby Baun and others continue to come here on weekends (as they were a major part of the attraction this past weekend)?

Media coverage was interesting. One newspaper (Canadian Statesman) reported that along with Prime Minister Harper, thousands attended the Total Hockey opening...

"He was among thousands who attended the event to see the new hockey museum, which is not without its detractors in Clarington. In fact, some candidates in the Nov. 13 municipal election have made it one of their lead issues, saying the $2 million spent was money wasted on a facility neither wanted by Clarington residents nor likely to generate any income."

Were there actually "thousands" who visited the Total Hockey museum? Director of Community Services Joe Caruana commented that a capacity crowd filled the Arena (which seats 1,400) to watch the big game in which NHL Alumni faced off against the Bowmanville Eagle Alumni. Yes, the game was a big hit.

However, according to Total Hockey curator Brian Shea, not nearly so many people actually visited the Total Hockey museum. The Orono Weekly Times (Nov. 1 edition) reports:

"According to Shea, 321 people took advantage of the grand opening half price special, $3 admittance fee, to Total Hockey on Sunday. In addition to touring the facility on Sunday, visitors also had the opportunity to get autographs from hockey legends Red Kelly, Senator Frank Mahovlich, Mike Palmateer, Bobby Baun and Johnny Bower."

Only 321 people paid to visit the museum for the grand opening, with all the pomp and circumstance, the "celebrity" hockey guests, the Prime Minister of Canada, Bev Oda, John O'Toole, and the Alumni Hockey Game. Regarding cost to the municipality (taxpayers), the Orono Weekly Times also reports,

"The Municipality purchased the hockey collection from former hockey broadcaster Brian McFarlane in October 2003, for $225,000. A 4,000 square foot stand alone building to display the collection has been constructed adjacent to the Garnet B. Rickard, Recreation Complex in Bowmanville, for a total estimated cost of $1.8 million. Half of that cost will be debentures for the next 15 years."

We would say that in light of the costs of this project and all the hype prior to the "grand opening" to lure visitors to the Total Hockey museum, it was a "miss". It may have been a "hit" for incumbent mayor John Mutton and the incumbent Councillors, as one more media event and campaign opportunity which was paid for by the taxpayers, rather than by the (incumbent) candidates, but it was a "miss" for the taxpayers. When will our council realize money doesn't grow on trees?

The timing of this grand opening, during an election campaign and shortly after voters received their mail-in ballots in the mail for this election, is certainly very suspect. But whether it will help the incumbents because of the free publicity, or hurt them because of the lack of interest in the museum itself even at it's grand opening, and the realization that it will cost us all in the long run - is a question that might only be answered on November 13.